Fictional Characters How We Adore Thee

By Amanda Hatwell

What makes fictional characters stand out in our minds?

This question is one of the main reasons I started writing, aside from the angsty poetry I wrote as a teen. I set out on my writing journey wanting to do one thing and one thing only. I wanted to create characters that would reach people like so many had reached me over the years. I could list the number of people I’ve fallen in love with on one hand but if we included fictional characters? That would be another number entirely. I know I’m not alone when I say there’s just something about falling in love with a fictional character as you go along with them on their heart-wrenching journey. It’s almost addicting and it’s always the one thing that keeps me turning to the next page well into the night. The plots of books are important, don’t get me wrong, but if the characters aren’t compelling, or better yet, damn near intoxicating, the book is doomed to sit on my bedside table for far longer than it should.

So what makes us care about fictional people?

I’m not an expert on the human mind but I think it’s about the need for connection that is a major part of being human. When we meet two people who are destined for each other but fate rips them apart, we have that same ache in our heart. When we read about a character that is put through unbelievable torture and trials, a part of us goes along for the ride. These people are all the things we want to be and all the things that make us human. Why else would we finish that last page and feel a jolt of disappointment in the pit of our chest? It’s the Princess Buttercups and the Wesleys, the Tyrion Lannisters and the Eliot Waughs that keep us coming back for that jolt of human connection so many of us are lacking in today's world.

The characters that keep me interested (And that I would like to see more of)

There are so many wonderful characters out there but a few specific types of characters always tend to draw me in. These are the types of characters that I love to read as well as types I love to include in my own books.

1. The "Vicious" Warrior With a Secret Soft Side

Oh man do I love a baddie who rushes into battle and faces hoards of angry adversaries without so much as a flinch, but something magical happens when that character flashes a small glint of vulnerability to just the right person. It’s the soft underbelly that really hooks me.

Examples: Sandor Clegane (The Hound) from Game of Thrones. Mazikeen from Lucifer.

2. The Damsel Who Gets Sick and Tired of Being Rescued

This one just gives me all the “I am woman hear me roar” vibes and I’m completely here for it. There’s nothing like a character, who thinks they have no choice but to be held back by their circumstances, suddenly standing up and kicking ass.

Examples: Arya Stark from Game of Thrones, Julia from The Magicians.

3. The Tortured/Quirky Dreamer Who Suddenly Has to Step Up To The Plate

If you ask me, there’s far too many perfect characters with boring flaws and not nearly enough oddballs who are thrust into the role they never wanted to begin with. They have no idea what they’re doing here or what to do about it. They’d much rather be basking in their strange hobbies or hiding away from any form of attention but here they are, picking up the sword and facing the real world issues they've spent a lifetime avoiding like the plague.

Examples: Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter. Eliot Waugh from The Magicians.

Let me know what characters you love to fall in love with!

I’d love to hear about what character tropes my readers enjoy. What characters stay with you long after you’ve finished a tv series or book? Why do you think those characters are so important to you and other people?

At the end of the day, though I’m not yet published, I want to make sure the people that are dancing around on my pages come to life. I want them to have desires and needs, to struggle with who they are and what they are doing. I want them to grow and change. Why? Because, to me, that is the very thing that makes humanity tick. If I can bring even a small hint of that into my work, I’ll call that a grand success no matter how much money my books make down the line.